Dot Island
A tiny island in Yellowstone Lake, located in the entrance to West Thumb Bay.
Plan Around Dot Island
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Dot Island Details
Dot Island is a tiny island in Yellowstone Lake, located in the entrance to West Thumb Bay midway between Rock Point and Wolf Point, northwest of Frank Island. It was named by the Hayden Survey team in 1871 because of its small size of less than 1/2 mile in width (appearing as a mere "dot" on the map). In 1896, E. C. Waters, one of the park's early concessioners, operated an animal "zoo" comprised of bison and elk kept in pens on the island. Mr. Waters had apparently fashioned together a raft of some type and floated the animals, obtained from outside the park, to the island (there are anecdotal reports that some of the elk swam back to shore at one point). He'd charge them to ride his boats and would stop at the island to show them the animals. This practice continued until 1907, when the park's superintendent ordered him to release the animals. Dot Island has also been referred to as Elk Island in some early writings/journals from the days when the small zoo was operated upon it.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
Region
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Nearby Parks Around Dot Island
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Dot Island
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1.3 mi away
Whale's Mouth
Named after its resemblance to "the mouth and gullet of a giant fish".
2.4 mi away
Yellowstone Lake
The largest body of water in the park, it covers 136 square miles with 110 miles of shoreline.
2.7 mi away
Sand Point
The point was named by the Hayden Survey in 1871 for the sandy beach at the point.
3.2 mi away
Yellowstone Lake
The largest high-elevation lake in North America.
3.6 mi away
Spruce-Fir Exhibit
Located 10.6 miles north of West Thumb Junction on the West Thumb to Fishing Bridge Road.
